Will Methanol dry out turbo seals????

submarshall · 02-29-2012, 06:42 PM

I was waning other ppls word and experiance with running meth. Any issues with crystalized seals of any kind? The reason for asking is because my turbo or turbos just shit the bed. Im burning oil through the exhaust and a BMW master mechanic said it a turbo seal failure!! He also blamed it on my methanol injection. I have been running snow performance boost juice (50/50 mix). I have only ran about 1 and 1/2 gallons of it so far. I have and 08 with 9,8XX miles on it. I discovered the oil burning problem as soon as i went cattless!! So the factory catts were covering up the white smoke. I have also lost 1 qt of oil in a 3 day span.

Anybody have any feedback for me?

cooler2442 · 02-29-2012, 06:43 PM

Since you're running Procede post this on E90post where Shiv can reply to you.

submarshall · 02-29-2012, 06:50 PM

ok thanks!!

rader1 · 02-29-2012, 06:54 PM

Turbo "seals" are metal, not rubber so it's not going to dry them out. The N54 turbos are known for premature failure and meth(or any of your other mods) had nothing to do with it. Tell the tech to PROVE methanol caused the failure.

Clovef · 02-29-2012, 08:25 PM

I know that the mazdaspeed community if very familiar with this on their turbocharged direct injected 2.3L. Mazda had dealers change to a thicker oil 5w40 if I remember right. They ended up replacing some turbos too. It happened on both modded and unmodded cars but removing the cats made it very apparent. They think it was related to a poor pcv system design. I hope there are no similar issues with the n54 or n55. I don't see what meth has to do with it other then you making more boost which would be hard on the turbo and would make more heat.

submarshall · 02-29-2012, 10:57 PM

yes i agree with everything you are saying.

CrustyNoodle · 03-01-2012, 04:13 AM

What colour did you say the smoke was?

I would have thought that oil in the exhaust would blow blue smoke where as water would blow white - I may well be wrong.

PHANTOM666 · 03-01-2012, 05:43 AM

I've been running a lot of meth for over a year now. No issues. And only about a gallon won't do shit. The dealer is trying to get out of paying. De-mod and take it somewhere else.

ErvGotti · 03-01-2012, 06:01 AM

I can't see how they will dry out seals as you're spraying post turbo. Meth should never even see it. Though this is the chance you take when you mod and push the turbo's harder. So I wouldn't say meth caused the failure, but it certainly contributed to it.

On a side note always de-mod before bringing your car in for major service if your trying to warranty claim it.

FORCED AIR · 03-01-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rader1

Turbo "seals" are metal, not rubber so it's not going to dry them out. The N54 turbos are known for premature failure and meth(or any of your other mods) had nothing to do with it. Tell the tech to PROVE methanol caused the failure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErvGotti

I can't see how they will dry out seals as you're spraying post turbo. Meth should never even see it. Though this is the chance you take when you mod and push the turbo's harder. So I wouldn't say meth caused the failure, but it certainly contributed to it.

On a side note always de-mod before bringing your car in for major service if your trying to warranty claim it.

This ^^^. It isn't the meth. Tell him he is going to either fix it or prove in court that the meth caused the failure. Which he won't be able to do.

submarshall · 03-02-2012, 02:29 AM

thanks guys!! I'm stationed in Guam and i didnt actually take my car to the dealer. I spoke on the phone with the mechanic in dallas where im from. So all good there. And yes, i'm in the process of taking all of my mods off as we speak!! Sux

Im putting everything back to stock except the exhaust. I think i will be fine it i leave it on.

mdputnam · 03-02-2012, 02:36 PM

Warranty claim denied! Your aftermarket exhaust reduced the back pressure causing the turbos run hotter initiating premature seal failure.

submarshall · 03-02-2012, 04:04 PM

Warranty claim denied! Your aftermarket exhaust reduced the back pressure causing the turbos run hotter initiating premature seal failure.

And you know this for sure??

submarshall · 03-02-2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdputnam

Warranty claim denied! Your aftermarket exhaust reduced the back pressure causing the turbos run hotter initiating premature seal failure.

And you know this for sure??

Eyeman · 03-02-2012, 05:18 PM

Dealers definitely do not like exhaust mods that remove cats, especially the primary ones in the downpipes. My dealers tried to deny HPFP work on my car due to my downpipes. For sure if my turbos went and my car was still under the warranty period then I'd remove all my mods before I took my car to a dealer. When was your car originally purchased, you must be getting reasonably close to the 4 year point.

submarshall · 03-03-2012, 03:25 AM

I'm for sure going to put the stock DP's back on but was told the exhaust wasnt an issue. Yes i am getting close to the warranty going out. But only 10k on the car.

mdputnam · 03-06-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by submarshall

And you know this for sure??

When ever I see a dried out metal seal, I immediately suspect the muffler!

The dealer can make up what ever story they want to deny your claim, your job is not to give them an excuse.

02-29-2012, 06:42 PM	#1
submarshall Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 222 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X1 sDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii iTrader: (0)	Will Methanol dry out turbo seals???? I was waning other ppls word and experiance with running meth. Any issues with crystalized seals of any kind? The reason for asking is because my turbo or turbos just shit the bed. Im burning oil through the exhaust and a BMW master mechanic said it a turbo seal failure!! He also blamed it on my methanol injection. I have been running snow performance boost juice (50/50 mix). I have only ran about 1 and 1/2 gallons of it so far. I have and 08 with 9,8XX miles on it. I discovered the oil burning problem as soon as i went cattless!! So the factory catts were covering up the white smoke. I have also lost 1 qt of oil in a 3 day span. Anybody have any feedback for me?
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02-29-2012, 06:43 PM	#2
cooler2442 Brigadier General 480 Rep 4,154 Posts Drives: 1/18 Monte Carlo Blue E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (6) Garage List 2016 Porsche GT4 [0.00]	Since you're running Procede post this on E90post where Shiv can reply to you.
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02-29-2012, 06:50 PM	#3
submarshall Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 222 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X1 sDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii iTrader: (0)	ok thanks!!
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02-29-2012, 06:54 PM	#4
rader1 Banned 70 Rep 2,197 Posts Drives: Cobb Stage 2+ 135i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Roanoke, VA iTrader: (0)	Turbo "seals" are metal, not rubber so it's not going to dry them out. The N54 turbos are known for premature failure and meth(or any of your other mods) had nothing to do with it. Tell the tech to PROVE methanol caused the failure.
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02-29-2012, 08:25 PM	#5
Clovef First Lieutenant 33 Rep 332 Posts Drives: 2011 135i DCT Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Earth iTrader: (1)	I know that the mazdaspeed community if very familiar with this on their turbocharged direct injected 2.3L. Mazda had dealers change to a thicker oil 5w40 if I remember right. They ended up replacing some turbos too. It happened on both modded and unmodded cars but removing the cats made it very apparent. They think it was related to a poor pcv system design. I hope there are no similar issues with the n54 or n55. I don't see what meth has to do with it other then you making more boost which would be hard on the turbo and would make more heat.
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02-29-2012, 10:57 PM	#6
submarshall Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 222 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X1 sDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii iTrader: (0)	yes i agree with everything you are saying.
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03-01-2012, 04:13 AM	#7
CrustyNoodle First Lieutenant 12 Rep 317 Posts Drives: 135i DCT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	What colour did you say the smoke was? I would have thought that oil in the exhaust would blow blue smoke where as water would blow white - I may well be wrong. __________________ BMW - 135i DCT Audi - Q5 3.0TDI
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03-01-2012, 05:43 AM	#8
PHANTOM666 Reaper of Speed 0 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2010 135i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	I've been running a lot of meth for over a year now. No issues. And only about a gallon won't do shit. The dealer is trying to get out of paying. De-mod and take it somewhere else.
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03-01-2012, 06:01 AM	#9
ErvGotti Major 124 Rep 1,362 Posts Drives: 2008 135i 6MT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Aviano iTrader: (5) Garage List 2008 135i [6.00]	I can't see how they will dry out seals as you're spraying post turbo. Meth should never even see it. Though this is the chance you take when you mod and push the turbo's harder. So I wouldn't say meth caused the failure, but it certainly contributed to it. On a side note always de-mod before bringing your car in for major service if your trying to warranty claim it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-02-2012, 02:29 AM	#11
submarshall Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 222 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X1 sDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii iTrader: (0)	thanks guys!! I'm stationed in Guam and i didnt actually take my car to the dealer. I spoke on the phone with the mechanic in dallas where im from. So all good there. And yes, i'm in the process of taking all of my mods off as we speak!! Sux Im putting everything back to stock except the exhaust. I think i will be fine it i leave it on.
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03-02-2012, 02:36 PM	#12
mdputnam Lieutenant 289 Rep 556 Posts Drives: 135i & M235i Convertibles Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Warranty claim denied! Your aftermarket exhaust reduced the back pressure causing the turbos run hotter initiating premature seal failure.
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03-02-2012, 04:04 PM	#13
submarshall Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 222 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X1 sDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii iTrader: (0)	Warranty claim denied! Your aftermarket exhaust reduced the back pressure causing the turbos run hotter initiating premature seal failure. And you know this for sure??
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03-02-2012, 05:18 PM	#15
Eyeman Colonel 121 Rep 2,037 Posts Drives: 2008 135 blk, blk, step Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1994 Porsche 968 Cab [0.00] 2017 AMG GTS [0.00] 1994 Porsche 968 Coupe [0.00] 1977 Mercedes 450SE ... [0.00] 2008 135 [8.00]	Dealers definitely do not like exhaust mods that remove cats, especially the primary ones in the downpipes. My dealers tried to deny HPFP work on my car due to my downpipes. For sure if my turbos went and my car was still under the warranty period then I'd remove all my mods before I took my car to a dealer. When was your car originally purchased, you must be getting reasonably close to the 4 year point. __________________ Injen, RR OCC, MadDad Whisper, donut spare, 19x8.5et43fr 19x9.5et45r Volk LE37's, rear fenders rolled/pulled, PSS4S 225/35fr 255/30r, KW V1's, AR coated catless dps, Cross strutbar, CF grills and license plate holder, iCarbon diffuser, ETS black anodized FMIC, M3 control arms, Quaife, ER chargepipe, ForgeDV's, Topspeed Custom Tune, V3sims, Braille, Andrey_GTA rear hub mod, Ebay Mstyle front bumper and performance style side skirts.
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03-03-2012, 03:25 AM	#16
submarshall Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 222 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW X1 sDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii iTrader: (0)	I'm for sure going to put the stock DP's back on but was told the exhaust wasnt an issue. Yes i am getting close to the warranty going out. But only 10k on the car.
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